Les Miles confirms Sione Teuhema's suspension

During his usual post-scrimmage press conference, where Les Miles puts out a bunch of stats that everybody knows are fake but still want to react to anyway, there was one piece of news regarding the status of junior buck linebacker Sione Teuhema:

Sione Teuhema is under suspension and will not return to LSU spring football practice, coach Les Miles confirmed Saturday during a post-scrimmage news conference.

Teuhema, a junior backup defensive lineman, missed spring practice Tuesday and Thursday and missed the scrimmage Saturday at Tiger Stadium. He had participated in the first month of spring drills.

Miles was asked if Teuhema was still a member of the team.

"He is currently under suspension," Miles said, "and we don't know that that suspension will conclude ever."

This Teuhema's second suspension in the calendar year. He missed the final three regular season games last year and did not travel with the Tigers to the Texas Bowl against Texas Tech. He was withheld for what Miles termed as a "coach's decision."

This would not be Teuhema's first round of discipline. He missed the 2015 season opener due to "performance-based reasons" as well as the above-mentioned suspensions.

It's a shame, because Teuhema has flashed some real quickness as a pass-rusher, and it would have seemed as though he could flourish at the buck end/linebacker hybrid position in Dave Aranda's defense as a backup to Arden Key. Teuhema's absence leaves just Key and sophomore Isiah Washington at the position, although a couple of true freshmen will likely come in at the buck position. Given Teuhema's track record, they might have jumped him on the depth chart anyway.

The bigger speculative concern would be how this might affect Sione's brother, Maea Teuhema, coming off a stellar freshman season on the offensive line. The younger Teuhema has more invested here with a starting spot and possible NFL aspirations, plus Sione is still enrolled in school, so cooler heads would likely prevail. Still, it's a less-than-ideal circumstance.

As for the rest of the scrimmage:

Harris led all passers in the scrimmage, the final one of spring drills before next week's spring game. He completed 15 of 21 passes for four touchdowns, according to Miles. The scrimmage was closed to the public and media. Etling went 10-fo-15 for 66 yards, Miles said.

Again, the stats are worth even less than face value, as would any other stats that could be given without the proper context of the scrimmage. In other news, Will Clapp will miss next Saturday's spring game with a sports hernia, although Tre'davious White and Kendell Beckwith could both return. Spring game is set for 3 p.m. and will be televised on SEC Network.